Column by Nate Kremer
As the sun rose over Capitol Avenue last Tuesday, something in me thawed. I stood alongside thousands of concerned Kentucky citizens from all across the state demonstrating support for the Stream Saver Bill. The I Love Mountains rally, organized by KFTC (Kentuckians for the Commonwealth) was heating up the frigid stone staircase of the Capitol building, and my cold, estranged relationship with the political scene was finally beginning to burn.
Sure, I’ve long been politically opinionated and have voted several times, but a strange feeling of detachment and inefficacy has loitered behind the scenes. Many would agree: it’s easy to feel insignificant in today’s political system. The whole process of picking our leaders can seem surreal, like some sort of made-for-TV evening drama, which is sometimes not too far from the truth (Sean Hannity for Best Supporting Actor anyone?). All too often, I catch myself weighing “hope†against “change†or “the real America†as if some sort of choice between them exists in reality. In a system of government heavily influenced by big business and under distortion from our mainstream media, the quality of democracy is diminished. The loud public outcry against mountaintop removal I witnessed and was a part of last Tuesday began to wear thin my icy coat of cynicism. I realized that in these difficult times, a defeatist attitude will not suffice, and that we, as citizens, must stand up and demand to be heard.
I’m not looking to argue policy here regarding mountaintop removal. I’m not here to denounce or praise President Obama. I write to simply urge all readers to get actively involved in the democratic process we too often take for granted. I will travel to Washington D.C. later this week to attend Power Shift 2009, a youth climate conference where more than 10,000 young Americans look to help shape our environmental future and build a community of active, empowered citizens. From rallies in Frankfort to conferences in D.C., there are a multitude of ways to get involved. Contrary to what many think, and admittedly what I used to think, the everyday citizen can make a difference. A phone call or letter to a representative, while maybe not the biggest or the loudest voice, is a voice after all. There is no time to be passive; these policies affect us all. The greater the number, the faster the change.
Driving home from the rally, I came upon a wall-sized poster of our most recently elected president proudly strewn across the side of a rundown building. I understand how people can get behind politician’s messages of hope and promises of change, but let’s not conflate getting people elected and getting real things accomplished. We must take it on ourselves to affect change. Let’s not succumb to the mindless demagoguery presented to us on television. Maybe that’s the “hope†Obama had in mind. If you’re looking for a great way to get involved around Kentucky, head to Kentuckians for the Commonwealth’s Web site at www.kftc.org for more information. We owe it to ourselves, and we owe it to each other. The former governor of the Land of Lincoln, Adlai E. Stevenson, reminds us, “As citizens of this democracy, you are the rulers and the ruled, the law-givers and the law-abiding, the beginning and the end.â€
Nate Kremer is a psychology junior. E-mail opinions@kykernel.com.
I am tired of reading all of these articles about MTR and coal is bad and all of this that somehow manages to get into the Kernel every single week. People who oppose these things are for the most part located somewhere unrelevent to where the action is taking place. If polled I wonder how many of those people you witnessed where from the mountains? How many really understand the importance of the jobs coal and its industry bring to the area. I am from a small county in Appalachia with few opportunities, where coal is one of the few means of income. What would people like that do without those jobs? Would they just rely more on the government for aid? Would they continue to live in poverty? How can you say that the Obama brought about this big shift causing you to want to be active in decisions for the commonwealth when the people opposing are not from that involved area? Isn’t that taking away their democratic rights? What if they want more companies coming into their area so they can get better jobs? What if those huge coal plants that want to come into the smaller areas to provide those needed jobs are influenced to go elsewhere because people in the city decide to oppose?
billy,
as someone who worked in a coal mine two weekends ago, and understands its importance… i think you may have missed the point of this article.
zach
Zach,
I’m just trying to “get actively involved” and stir a change in the ideas of these people. Just like my great president did in 08.
I beat Nate every weekend in video games when we were growing up. It’s the only answer as to why he is such a tree hugging hippie.